Welcome to Mesothelioma Aid

Welcome to Mesothelioma Aid, a site for practical living with malignant mesothelioma. This site, and our staff provide you with the latest, leading medical information and provide mesothelioma patients, families and caregivers with support with real life and mesothelioma caregiving issues. Mesothelioma Aid focuses on providing answers to your questions and helping you best cope with what is ahead.

Mesothelioma is an industrial disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a membrane that covers and protects most of the body's internal organs. The mesothelium has different names depending on where it is located in the body. The two most common sites where mesothelioma develops are the pleura, the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall, and the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity. Thus when the disease develops in these areas, it is called pleural
mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma respectively.

This site is organized into sections designed to address the concerns of mesothelioma patients and their families.

Caregiving – Both in health care facilities and at home, caregiving is
very important for the friends and family of mesothelioma patients.
This section includes suggestions for those who care for mesothelioma
patients, from building caregiving skills and delegating responsibilities
to providing healthy nutrition.

Coping – Coping emotionally, physically, and financially with malignant
mesothelioma and your treatment regimen. This site provides tips
for interacting with the doctors and nurses and your keeping yourself
on an even keel.

Financial
Planning – Insurance considerations, medicare, and financial
planning for mesothelioma patients and their families. We provide
recommendations on how to manage your costs and billing.

Support - Support services available at major cancer centers and links to
special travel resources for mesothelioma patients. There are many
resources available to people with mesothelioma; this section provides
information on a variety of sources of support including support
groups for mesothelioma patients and their families.

When You Get Mesothelioma

Because mesothelioma shares symptoms with many other illnesses, patients are sometimes misdiagnosed. Doctors use a biopsy and microscopic tissue examination to definitively diagnose mesothelioma. Epithelial mesothelioma is the most common histology, followed by mixed/biphasic, and sarcomatous. Even oncologists (patients who specialize in cancer) might see only a few cases during their careers. A few doctors have enough experience with mesothelioma to be recognized as experts. We can help you find specialists and cancer treatment centers for your case.

Treatments of the disease can significantly extend the amount of time someone with mesothelioma has to live. Proven methods of treatment include surgery (such as pleurectomy and extrapleural pneumonectomy), radiation therapy (including complex Hemithoracic treatment), and chemotherapy. A chemotherapy combination of Alimta and cisplatin has become the standard of care, although each case is different and your medical team will craft a special treatment plan for you, taking into account your situation. Research is underway to address this disease and develop new treatments. We hope for a cure some day.

Mesothelioma and the Legacy of Asbestos

The risk of mesothelioma increases with cumulative exposure and also with the length of time since the first exposure. Asbestos has been declared a proven human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization. Because there is no safe threshold of exposure to asbestos, any degree of contact will involve some risk. Although a rare cancer, mesothelioma rates have increased since the 1970s as the long latency period of the asbestos-related cancer has played out.

Experts expect the incidence of mesothelioma to increase in coming years. The International Labour Organization and World Health Organization have declared that the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop using all types of asbestos. Contrary to widespread belief, asbestos is NOT banned in the United States. It is still imported from Canada and is used in some consumer products. Further, the legacy of asbestos from decades past is all around us – in roofing shingles, old drywall, cement, and more.

Our goal is to provide mesothelioma patients and their families with the help they need to understand their situation, the impact on their lives, how to get the information they need from their caregivers and determine the best treatment options.

**(Packet includes information on treatment, clinical trials, cancer links, how to access legal and financial resources, and frequently asked
legal questions with answers provided by Cooper, Hart, Leggiero & Whitehead, PLLC.). By filling out the above form you consent to being contacted by Cooper, Hart, Leggiero & Whitehead
regarding potentially retaining legal services.

Mesothelioma Aid is a website devoted to life issues for mesothelioma patients and their families, and is sponsored by Brad Cooper* of Cooper, Hart, Leggiero & Whitehead.
Cooper, Hart, Leggiero & Whitehead is located in The Woodlands, Texas (Greater Houston Area) and handles cases nationwide with local co-counsel in the state of filing and can be reached at 1-800-998-9729 for more information on mesothelioma.
Brad Cooper is not a medical doctor. The information on these pages is for the education of mesothelioma patients and their families regarding potential
medical and legal options. Patients are advised to consult with a medical doctor.